Scaffold.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM UPTHEGROVE, OF TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN.

SC'AFFOLD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 683,527, dated October 1, 1901.

Application filed June 19, 1901. fierial No. 65,187. (No model.)

T0 at whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM UPTHEGROVE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Traverse City, in the county of Grand Traverse and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful'dmprovements in Scaifolds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to scaffold-supports, and has direct reference to that class of inventions designed for supporting operators who ascend telegraph-poles, trees, or other like objects.

The object of the invention is to provide a seat or foot board for linemen and other like operators who ascend telegraph-poles or trees and are compelled to work in that elevated position.

Furthermore, the object of the invention is to provide a seat or foot board in which the frictional engagement of the retaining members thereof will increase in efficiency with the increase of weight applied to the seat or foot board.

Furthermore, the object of the invention is to provide a device of the character noted in which the anchoring means which encircles the pole or tree connects with the seat or foot board above the plane of engaging spurs projecting from the lower edge of the board.

Furthermore, the object of the invention is to produce a device of the character noted which will comprise a few parts, which will prove strong, durable, and efficient, satisfactory in use, and comparatively inexpensive.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more f ully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a portion of a pole with the seat or foot board embodying the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken centrally of the pole and seat. Fig. 3 is an underneath plan view of the seat.

In the drawings, A denotes the pole, and 2 clips, each comprising a metallic strip bent on itself to embrace the seat-board 3, said board being formed of a single piece or comprising a number of separate pieces joined together, as the fancy of the manufacturer may dictate. The ends of the strips under the board converge slightly and terminate in prongs which protrude beyond the edge of the board, the rear edge of said board being recessed in the arc of a circle to conform to the contour of a pole to which it may be applied. The purpose of having the ends of the strips converge, as shown fully in'Fig. 3, is to prevent oscillation or sidewise movement of the seat and also to afford an anchorage therefor when weight is applied. The upper inner ends of the metallic strips are provided with an eye 4 and a hook 5, respectively. A link of'one end of the chain 6 is secured to the eye 4, and the links near the opposite end of the metallic strip are designed to engage the hook 5 after said chain has passed around the pole or upright to which the seat is applied. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the chain engages the pole at a point considerably above the plane of the points of the strip, and hence the said seat is retained in position by frictional contact with the chain and pole, and the more weight applied the greater the friction will become.

It will be seen from the foregoing that th seat may be applied to poles and trees of varying diameters, the only requirement being that the length of the chain be such as to enable it to encircle the object to which the seat is applied.

I prefer that the strip shall be secured to the board by means of the bolt 7, although I do not wish to be limited to this mode of attaching the elements, as other expedients may be resorted to to accomplish this result.

It is noted that various changes in the proportions and details of construction may be made for successfully carrying the invention into practice without departing from the scope A of the claims.

Having fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a device of the character described, a board,metallic strips bent to embrace the edge of the board, said strips being extended to project beyond the edge of the board opposite the edge embraced by the strips and a flexible connection engaging the strips on top of the board, substantially as set forth.

2. In a device of the character described, a board, anchoring-points projecting from the lower edge thereof, a flexible connection and engaging members on the upper surface of the board to which the flexible connection is attached.

3. In a seat or foot-support, a body, strips embracing one edge thereof and having ends projecting from the opposite edge thereof on the under side, and a flexible connection secured above the body, substantially as set forth.

4:. In a seat or foot-support, a body, strips embracing one edge thereof with their ends projecting beyond the opposite edge,said ends converging and having pointed extremities and a flexible connection adapted to embrace a pole attached to the opposite ends of the strip as set forth.

5. In a seator foot-support, a body, strips embracing one edge thereof, said strips terminating in points and projecting beyond the opposite edge of the body and converging, the opposite ends of said strips terminating in a hook and an eye respectively, a flexible connection secured to the eye and detachable on the book as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 15th day of June, 1901.

WILLIAM UPTHEGROVE.

Witnesses:

MARY E. KELDERHOUSE, ETTA L. CURTIS. 

